A lighthearted and loving look back at the glory days of the Shady Dell, the historic haven for teenagers in York, PA, and the magnanimous couple that created it, John & Helen Ettline.

CLOSE YOUR EYES. TAKE A DEEP BREATH. OPEN YOUR HEART.

SHADY DEL KNIGHT, ADMINISTRATOR

High School Yearbook Photo

"More than a place, the Shady Dell was and will forever remain a state of mind." - Shady Del Knight

HELLO STRANGER ... IT SEEMS LIKE A MIGHTY LONG TIME!

Monday, August 3, 2015

Hey Get Yer Battle of the Banned Here! Version Sacrifice 2: Kiki Meets Sarah - Which Will "Run Away" With a Win?

DON'T BE SCARED, DEAR FRIEND.

JUST KEEP TELLING YOURSELF

IT'S ONLY A BLOG...

IT'S ONLY A BLOG...

Welcome to

VERSION SACRIFICE 2!

It's the latest post in my new series

Battle of the Banned.

Version Sacrifice might sound disturbing
but it's merely a friendly competition
that let's you be the judge.

In today's spin-off, two Brit birds compete
for your vote, covering the soulful recording
of a U.S. artist. Listen to both covers, decide
which one you like more and cast your
vote when you leave a comment.

The contestants are waiting in the wings
and ready to perform... so let theBattle of the Banned begin!

TAMI LYNN

New Orleans soul bird Tami Lynn sang back-up

for A list acts like the Rolling Stones, Wilson

Pickett and Sonny & Cher. As a solo artist,

Tami got her props, not in the U.S.

but across the pond.

Tami's original recording of
"I'm Gonna Run Away From You," written by New York producer Bert Berns, remained uncharted after its 1965 U.S. release, but the single enjoyed much greater popularity in the UK where it was released three times over a ten year period. On the second UK go-around, Tami's tune peaked at #4 on the chart and was a hit with fans of Northern Soul. The single was reissued in 1975 and cracked the UK top 40. Listen to Tami's terrific take!

"I'm Gonna Run Away From You"

Tami Lynn (March 1965, uncharted)

Tami Lynn's original is ineligible.Do not vote for it... or else!
The two contestants in this battle are a

pair of English thrushes performing their
own fine renditions. Vote for one of them.

SARAH COLLINS

Now hear this. What a find!

It's Sarah Collins of North Yorkshire, England.

Sarah, a mid 30s mother of two, battled back

from a brain tumor and now fronts an 8 piece

soul/funk/reggae/ska/northern soul band called

Vinyl Groove. In addition Sarah has become a

celebrity on YouTube thanks to videos of her
singing at home. In no time Sarah won me
over with her excellent covers of past hits.
You can tell by Sarah's delightful smile
and the utter joy with which she sings
that she feels lucky to be alive and

thankful for every new day.

"I'm Gonna Run Away From You"

Sarah Collins' cover of Tami Lynn

KIKI DEE

Millions know English songstress Kiki Dee

as Elton John's partner on the hit 1976 duet

"Don't Go Breaking My Heart." Fewer are

aware that she was the first white, female,

blue-eyed soul singer signed to Motown's

Tamla label. Kiki started out as a session

singer backing Dusty Springfield and others.

In February 1966 Kiki released a percolating cover

of Tami Lynn's "I'm Gonna Run Away From You."

Upon its release, Kiki's single competed head to

head with a version released by an unknown
UK artist named Antoinette. The two British
singles canceled each other out and both
flopped. Here's Kiki Dee's power-packed
platter released with the modified title

"Why Don't I Run Away From You?"

"Why Don't I Run Away From You?"

Kiki Dee (February 1966)

The moment of truth has come.

One version must be sacrificed.

Which artist performed the better

cover of "Run Away From You"?

VOTE FOR ONE OF THESE ARTISTS:

SARAH COLLINS

or

KIKI DEE.

VOTE NOW!

Stay tuned for my follow-up post 7 days from now

in which I will cast my vote, count the ballots

(including hanging chad and dimpled chad)

and announce the winner.

After voting here today, please make time
to swing over to my good buddyAlex J. Cavanaugh's
blog and cast your vote in hisBattle of the Banned!

71 comments:

Tom, what a fun spin off of BOTB. You have style, my friend! Now, this is a new oldie for me to hear for the first time. I thought both covers were nice and I actually thought the vocals sounded very similar. I agree with you, I think Sarah is a happy person judging her brimming smile and she definitely has good reason to be happy. God had His hand over her! I loved the music history following Kiki Dee. I didn't know any of it, other than her pop hit with Elton, which I really liked. I had no clue she branched off on her. Now, who gets sacrificed as you put it? Oh what tough decisions, but I think I'm going to give my vote to Kiki Dee. Her voice is just a wee bit smoother. Great, great fun battle and thanks for stopping in to vote at my place. Have a tunetastic week!

Hi, dear Cathy! Thank you for making time to visit my BOTB. I'm glad you enjoyed my Version Sacrifice and appreciated both of these English sparrows. I will put you down for Kiki Dee and thank you again for visiting and voting. Please take good care of yourself, dear friend Cathy, and I'll see you back here one week from today when I announce the winner!

Hi, dear Susie! I'm happy to see you back on the blogs, dearie. Thanks for coming.

Yessum, Sarah's karaoke style singing performances are shot at home and she has become quite a hit on YouTube. Her survival story is inspiring. I will register your vote for Sarah in my BOTB. Thanks again for joining the fun, dear friend Susie!

Why don't I run away from you? Well, I engraved your name on the prayer list and it would just mess it up if I moved on. Everyone else is in dry erase marker.

Good morning and howdy do! I didn't post on my own blog today...eye strain with computer use...decided to spend that time on other blogs as long as I can.

When Elton John and Kiki Dee had their chart breaker duet, I was all over that puppy. I loved it. Upbeat, tight harmony...hey, it had Elton John! I'm a Kiki fan, basically, is what I'm saying.

So, Kiki's version of this song is no surprise: strong vocals, great arrangement. It's even a little bit upbeat inspite of the topic. I love it.

BUT....

Sarah Collins version, done at home with none of the sound engineer booth magic, is great. Clear, strong, great vocals. I love the personality that comes through; she seems so light hearted and really enjoying what she is doing. I can totally understand why she would get a YouTube following.

Good morning, dear Cherdo! I was surprised this morning when I couldn't find a new post from you. I am very happy to know the reason is nothing worse than eye strain. I appreciate your prayers and the time you devote to visiting me here at SDMM.

I also appreciate the rationale you gave for voting for Sarah Collins. It's true. This contest requires you to imagine how she would sound in the studio backed by a full orchestra and having her voice run through an audio mixer. On the other hand, Sarah has the advantage of a gripping back story, having survived a life threatening brain tumor, and the fact that you can see her face as she performs. Yessum, there are several factors to weigh before making a decision and I thank you for taking time to do that.

I will enter your vote for Sarah Collins, dear Cherdo, and I thank you again for supporting Battle of the Banned. (Just keep telling yourself "It's only a blog...")

This isn't a level playing field. Kiki Dee's voice seems more refined, but she had the advantage of a recording studio. If Sarah's version had been made under the same circumstances she would probably sound just as good. It all boils down to this-- A soul song should be performed in a soulful manner. Kiki Dee's version is good, but it is British pop. I vote for Sarah Collins because she puts more soul and feeling into her performance.

Hi, dear Kathryn! Thanks for joining my BYOB/BOTB party! I agree it isn't a level playing field, but that makes the competition more interesting, in my opinion. Clearly, Sarah Collins' personality, style and vocal treatment resonated with you and with Cherdo (above) and compensated for her low budget homemade production. I will record your vote for Sarah Collins and I thank you again for participating in Battle of the Banned!

This is is such a nice battle and Sarah's story is a good way to start the week, with an upbeat tune and an inspiring story.

I know how well Kiki can sing as I've heard her do it before. She's a real pro with some great chops and this recording is no different. Top notch and I love it!

But I'm of the same mind as Kathryn regarding Sarah's version. Kiki had a studio and Sarah has a living room. I like the quality of Sarah's voice and I like the feeling with which she sings. And Kathryn said it, Kiki's version is British pop, whilst Sarah's is full of soul.

I'm voting for Sarah.

I won't be back to blogging anytime soon, but I will be popping in more frequently now.

Hi, Anne! I am very happy to see you again, my dear friend. I've been thinking about you and I am very thankful that you haven't forgotten about me. Welcome back!

It was beginning to look like Kiki Dee would trounce Sarah but now it appears as if the contest could go either way. Truth be told, I didn't know any Kiki Dee recordings beyond her duet with Elton before I stumbled upon this one made much earlier in her career. As I mentioned in the text, another Brit popper, Antoinette, released her version of "Run Away" at the same time Kiki's was charting and they canceled each other out. I could have added Antoinette's version to the BOTB but decided not to muddy the water.

Thank you for voting and letting me know your rationale for picking Sarah Collins. I agree that she renders the song soulfully. We need to remember, however, that many readers/voters prefer a pop sound to soul and that, too, makes this contest interesting.

Thank you again, dear friend Anne, for your cheery visit, comment and vote. I hope to see you again soon!

Hi again, dear Anne! It's funny. "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" was a smash hit, spent 4 weeks at #1 on the U.S. chart, but I didn't like it and you didn't like it. In fact, I can't remember anybody mentioning to me that they liked it. :)

My tastes vary and I am not very hard to please. I love all three of these versions of "Run Away." 99% of the recordings that I present on SDMM are tunes that I enjoy, no matter how obscure they might be. Many are recordings that I discovered in the last two years during my Brit girl phase and now have in my CD collection.

I have thought about you often in your absence, dear Anne. I'm happy to know that your garden is growing and that you are helping to restore the dwindling bee and butterfly populations. Remember what happened before and be careful not to spend too much time toiling in the sun and heat.

It's always a pleasure to catch up with you, Anne. Thank you again for your ongoing friendship and support!

I love your uniqueness and taking something and making it your own:) The first girl looks so happy to be alive and I commend her courage and she has a string voice but I have to go with Kiki because I prefer her voice a tad better but I love the music especially the "James Bond" vibe. I can't think which instrument it is but it always brings a sexiness to anything. Maybe you can enlighten me which instrument it is

Hi, dear Birgit! Thank you very much for coming over for my Version Sacrifice! As I mentioned to another reader, many of the recordings made in London during the 60s boast those magnificent horn sections. I agree that the Kiki Dee recording brings to mind the soundtracks of James Bond films. Is it a trombone that makes that distinctive sound? French horn? I'm not sure.

Thank you very much, my dear sweet friend Birgit. I am very happy to know you have fun when you are here. I will mark you down for Kiki Dee in this contest. Please come back one week from now and find out which English sparrow won! Until then, have a great week!

Kiki Dee was good with some excellent accompaniments, but... Sarah’s rich voice alone emanates a distinct vibrancy, enhanced only by her charming smile. I can only imagine how fantastic she’d sound with professional back-up, but she gets my vote as-is!

Hi, dear Diedre! Thank you very much for risking all to attend my Version Sarifice! Your explanation for voting for Sarah Collins is well written and pleases me greatly. It would be an interesting experiment to take Sarah's vocal track and add the same instrumental backing found on Kiki's recording. It speaks volumes that Sarah's charming personality and the joy and passion with which she sings was enough to sway your vote. I will add your vote for Sarah to the official tally and I thank you again for joining me today, dear friend Diedre!

I like the version by Sarah Collins, and I really love to hear how she has overcome her own battle. I agree with you, love her smile and she looks like she's ready for the world. I thought I was surely going to choose her song, but then I heard the version by Kiki Dee. And yes, the only other song I'm familiar with is the duet she did with Elton John. I think ultimately, I like her version more. You can put me down for Kiki Dee.

Battle of the Banned huh? Now I feel like I am in a rival gang. Who are you the Sharks or the Jets?

LOL! Hello, Jeffrey! I suppose my gang would have to be called the Rats because the kids in my old crowd at the Shady Dell were known as Dell Rats.

For decades I knew next to nothing about Kiki Dee. Then, a couple of years ago, I caught Brit girl fever, did some digging and learned more about her. As it turns out, Kiki started making records in 1963 and she released many fine singles. Oddly, Kiki remained a well kept secret from American audiences and she didn't fare much better at home in the UK until the mid 70s when she found fame via Elton John.

I will put you down for Kiki Dee, good buddy, and thank you very much for supporting SDMM and Battle of the Banned. Please make sure to visit my BOTB colleague, Alex J., and vote in his contest. Thanks, Jeffrey!

Shadyyyyyy!!! I've missed you! What a great battle you have here. I really enjoyed both versions. I like the horns in Kiki Dee's as mentioned in other comments. I like that I can hear Sarah's smile come through in her version. I think I'm going with Sarah. She has quite a story and to be able to sing with such Joy , what a blessing!

Hi, dear Holli! Are you writing to me from atop the Mount Rushmore monument? :) I am very grateful to have you over today to listen to my tuneage and vote in my latest Battle of the Banned. I have missed you, too, my sweet friend!

Isn't it amazing how you can close your eyes and "hear" the smile in a singer's voice? Such is indeed the case with Sarah Collins. She sings with joy and passion and even adopts a soulful New Orleans accent. That's quite an accomplishment for a British soccer mom.

Thank you very much for giving both contestants your careful consideration before submitting your vote. I will add your vote for Sarah Collins to the total. I invite you to return one week from today to find out which of these Brit birds won the contest.

I like both versions, but I guess I vote for Kiki Dee. She has a tremendous voice. Loved Sarah; she must be having so much fun singing in a band and online! If I had had youtube when I was young, you can bet I'd have been singing from my bedroom. I'll go visit Alex; I followed him for a long time when I had my blog. See you in a week. Hugs

Hi, dear Belle! It's great to see you again, my dear friend. Thanks for reading, listening and voting in my latest Banned Battle.

Yessum, I can picture you as a teenager shooting selfie videos of your singing performances. I often wonder how boomers would have turned out if we had all of today's technology when we were growing up in the 60s. It really gives you something to think about, doesn't it?

Both contestants in today's BOTB are female singers from the UK, but that's where the similarity ends. The recordings were made nearly 50 years apart, one in a professional studio setting, the other a home grown affair. Kiki's recording is one of the finest examples of mid 60s Brit pop while Sarah renders her version in a more authentic soul style. Kiki Dee's waxing of the song pleased your ears and I will record your vote for her.

Thank you for checking out the blog of your old friend and my new friend Alex J. Cavanaugh who decided to help me spread linky love by joining my Battle of the Banned network. :)

Thank you again for coming, my dear and faithful friend Belle. I hope to see you one week from today when I announce the winner of my BOTB. God bless!

I saw the name Kiki Dee and winced. I had not heard anything from her so far that hadn't made me say, "Well, at least it ain't Yoko Ono." I was pleasantly surprised. She gets my vote- something I never thought I'd say in a positive light.

Hi, Chris! Thanks for coming over, good buddy. I admit that I underestimated Kiki Dee. I had no idea she made a bunch of great recordings in the 60s including the one featured in this contest. It's a shame she spent years trying but didn't achieve fame on either side of the pond until the mid 70s when she sang on that hit Elton John single. I'm glad you were pleasantly surprised and I will record your vote for Kiki in my BOTB.

You're right, Chris. I haven't been showing up on Fridays for your Time Machine. By the same token, you haven't been over to see me here in a while. I think we have been avoiding each other's blogs for the same reason. Seems we find ourselves on opposite sides of the political aisle and I'm sure you know how easily discussions of politics and religion can deep-six a friendship. Obviously we need to address the elephant in the room (or is it a donkey? :) I realize that the last two or three posts that have appeared here on SDMM have given the liberals and the feminists a chance to celebrate, but it's the first time in seven years that I have presented such material. As you know, I prefer to keep SDMM fun, upbeat and about the music. As you might have guessed by now, my political beliefs do not match yours. Rest assured, however, that I would fight for your right to have your beliefs and to express them on your blog. That said, I would like to respectfully ask a favor. If you think you could refrain from dragging political rants into your Time Machine posts and stay focused on the music, I will feel more welcome on your blog and will gladly resume my Friday visits. You would still have every other day of the week to discuss politics and religion. Fair enough?

I very much appreciate you coming here today, Chris. Make no mistake, I value your friendship. I always read your comments on our friends blogs and admire your sense of humor. I know you like my humor, too. I vote that we agree to disagree, forget about our differing political philosophies and keep our great friendship going. Do you want to?

Honest truth, I hadn't gotten any of your posts in my feeder in a while, except for the last one with the guest post about the dance show, which I figured I'd already commented on on your last post. I hadn't really noticed which political side you're on, and I don't know if that's because you hadn't posted on it in my short time around here or because, my feed is ignoring you. That wouldn't surprise me, because I only get the e-mail notifications on your replies to my comments about half the time (and usually come back just to check). I on the other hand, realize I put my political heart on my sleeve.

I think you would find me willing to have reasonable discussions. I try not to troll unless trolled at, and I find I run into that more with people who should be agreeing with me than those I don't agree with.

So the answer to your question is of course, and I appreciate your taste in music which for me SHOULD be more important than politics. I put that in caps, because I had to break an e-friendship with another music guy that thought that my mere questioning of "global warming" meant I belonged to the flat earth society (that is NOT a humorous exaggeration). I think two reasonably intelligent, handsome, and upright gentlemen as ourselves ought to be able to disagree without any problems.

As long as you don't mind that I REALLY never noticed your political affiliation...

Great, Chris! I agree wholeheartedly with you, especially the "handsome" part. :) I wouldn't want to lose touch with Scrappy and I'm sure you don't want to miss a single one of my Granny Clampett jokes, so we're in good shape, my friend.

After listening to the two songs, right away I thought that Kiki was the best . Her voice was so clear and pretty. Then I read Kathryn's comment and I thought she's right! I changed my mind. Sarah's version was the best because it had such a raw, soulful sound.

The first song I can remember being a remake was Tommy James' 1967 hit, "I Think We're Alone Now". Then, 20 years later, Tiffany remade it to become an even bigger hit!

Hi, Toni! Welcome to my second creepy Version Sacrifice here at station SDMM. While I don't want you to be influenced by the comments and opinions of others, I like the fact that you took a little extra time to ponder your decision. Some people love a soulful sound while others prefer the cleaner pop sound. The production on Kiki Dee's recording was superb - bright and brassy - while the accompaniment on Sarah's version was bare bones. In the end you experienced Sarah's performance as an unpolished gem and chose it over the refined studio recording by Kiki. I will register your vote for Sarah Collins and I thank you very much for participating, dear friend Toni. Have a great week!

Hi dear Janie Junebug! Thank you for coming to my latest BOTB bash. I agree. With all the haters out there who love to pick apart the musical performances of amateurs, it was very brave of Sarah to go for it and put herself out there for all to see and hear. Fortunately she has garnered many more thumbs up than thumbs down on her YouTube videos and her nightclub act fronting the band Vinyl Groove is a hit in England and across Europe. I will record your vote for Sarah Collins, dear friend Janie, and again, thank you for coming!

I also love a Yorkshire girl. I want so badly to visit Yorkshire so I can pay homage to Sylvia Plath and wander the moors like the Bronte sisters till I die very dramatically of tuberculosis. I know I've said this before, and I'll keep saying it till someone give me enough money to spend a few weeks in England. Or maybe someone will pay me to shut up. I'll take the money however I can get it. I'm a very bad girl.

Hi again, dear Sandra! Thank you very much for dropping in to cast your vote in my latest BOTB competition. I will add your vote for Sarah Collins to the running total. I cordially invite you to return one week from today to find out which artist won. Thanks again, Sandra, and have wonderful week!

Hi, Lee! Thanks for joining the fun as I present my second chilling Version Sacrifice. Obviously you read some of the other comments and noticed how many people disliked that Elton - Kiki megahit. Truth be told I am not a big fan of Elton John either and wouldn't mind at all if I never heard "Crocodile Rock" again in my lifetime.

I also notice that several readers who voted for Sarah Collins have a difficult time explaining precisely why. Something about her resonates with people, perhaps on a subliminal level.

I will add your vote for Sarah to the count, good buddy, and once again I thank you for taking part in my banned battle. Have a great day, Lee!

Hi, dear Sherry! It's great to see you, my new friend. Thank you very much for coming over and voting in my BOTB.

This is turning out to be a close contest with votes almost equally divided between those who prefer a soulful vocal style and those who like a refined pop sound. I will record your vote for Kiki Dee and I invite you to return next Monday when the winner will be announced. Thanks again, Sherry, and have a wonderful day!

Thank you, dear Debbie, for helping me to remember the late great Cilla Black. I challenge anyone to watch and listen to this performance of hers without getting goose bumps and tears in their eyes. Please take two minutes and experience it. This is mastery. Cilla was a solid pro, stepping up to the mic and knocking it out of the ball park right there in front of Burt Bacharach himself:

This is a song I'm not familiar with, so no preconceptions. I actually liked both covers - better than the original in fact. Sarah has a lovely roughness to her voice that I really like, so she gets my vote, in the end. Fun post as always, Shady! ☺

Thank you very much, dear Debbie the Doglady, for joining the fun, listening and voting in my latest BOTB. I'm always happy to introduce new songs and singers to you. I tend to agree that both of these covers were better than the original, although many Tami Lynn fans on YouTube would disagree with us. Englishwoman Sarah Collins amazes me with her ability to sound like a Cajun queen. At times you can detect a hint of "vocal fry" aka pulse register, laryngealisation, pulse phonation, creak, croak, popcorning, glottal fry, glottal rattle, glottal scrape, or strohbass. (I got all that from Wiki) I always knew of it as glottal fry. Whatever you call it, the vocal technique resonates with a lot of people.

I'm delighted to know that you had fun here today, dear friend Debbie, and I will record your vote for Sarah Collins in this very close contest!

Thank you for your visit and good luck with your job interviews, dear Jessica Marie. If you wish to participate in the BOTB then you need to listen to the two entries and let me know which candidate gets your vote. There's still plenty of time. This post runs through Sunday and I will announce the winner on Monday. Thanks again for coming, dear Jessica Marie!

Hi Shady! I'd never heard this song before so it was fun to learn a new one and I enjoyed both versions...however I don't want to be a fence sitter so I'll give my vote. I also don't want to give my vote with voicing some reasons. Maybe it's the dimples but I sure liked Sarah Collins...then I listened to Kiki and it was more professional and polished....then I listened again to Sarah and sure enough her relaxed, just happy to be here and a love of singing sure came through. Ok, I listened again to Kiki..not kidding..I really did. But it's Sarah for me. I guess it just felt "real", coming from the heart. Can't wait to see who wins! Thanks for a fun post...sorry I'm so late in commenting...I'm a blog loser this week!

Hi, dear YaYa! I'm pleased to see you tonight, my special friend! You've been following SDMM for years and by now you know that you almost always have a full week to read a post before it is replaced by a new one. You arrived in plenty of time to vote in my BOTB and I thank you very much for coming.

You're not the only one who wrestled with the decision and waffled back and forth before deciding how to vote. Seems like most of the readers/voters needed to deliberate a while. I like the way you explained the process that led you to vote for Sarah Collins. I'm delighted that you and others found something to like about both recordings and I am also thrilled that the contest is turning out to be a close one. I know you're heading out to Oregon soon and I will miss you. If at all possible come back here next Monday (or anytime next week) and find out who claimed victory in my BOTB.

Thank you again for another terrific comment, dear friend YaYa, and enjoy the rest of your week!.

Hi, dear Lux! Thank you for coming to the party. My dear, you don't need to have ANY knowledge about the artists in order to tell me which one you like better. For seven years I have been introducing friends like you to artists and music that are new to them. Since you expressed a preference for Sarah Collins I will enter another vote for her on your behalf.

Thank you very much for stopping by, dear friend Lux, and enjoy the rest of your week!.

Hey Shady!I'm thinking that this could very well be one of my newest favorite songs!!! What a catchy tune, I've got a feeling this will be running through my head for a while, mainly in those quiet moments shelving books at the library and pedaling down the street.I've always had a hard time making decisions slash voting for things like this. I truly believe that all forms of music in this world have different motivations, inspirations, techniques and strong points all their own, making comparison almost fruitless. As long as someone is doing their best and doing it with their whole hearts, they are a winner in my book, who's to say who is better? However we do have our own personal preferences, and voting like this is fun!This is a doozy of a difficult on, oh my! Kiki Dee gets my vote for the version of singing this song, and Sandra Collins gets my vote for the most inspirational story and gets me as her newest fan (which obviously is a total winning point, right? hehe, kidding of course).What an awesome post, Shady. This certainly did not have me running away!!!-A&D

Hi, dear Abigail and Daisy! Thank you very much for checking out the latest contest in my Battle of the Banned series. I feel much the same as you. As long as artists give their all in performances I admire and respect them. Such is the case, I think, with all three of these ladies. I, too, can name several reasons for voting for each of the contestants in this battle. If I am understanding you, you are voting for Kiki Dee's version of the song and unless I hear otherwise I will record a vote for Kiki on your behalf. Your appreciation of Sarah's compelling back story is also noted and I thank you for expressing that.

I'm very happy that you enjoyed hearing and learning this catchy song, "Run Away From You." It has been stuck in my head for days now and I don't mind it one bit. :)

Thank you again for your kind visit and comment, dear friend Abigail. Please look in on Monday to find out which artist won the BOTB competition. God bless!

Once again I'm late to the battle, but that's ok as I didn't really get into either version. Just not my style either way...

I feel like I've missed your last few posts. I've barely had the energy to update my own blog the last few weeks. I've taken on extra work at the station - going out a few mornings a week to report in one of our beat areas that has been being neglected of late. And I'm still producing two shows a day! I enjoy the reporting but by the time I get home and take care of the baby, eat and do chores, I'm beat!

Hi, Ashton! It was very nice of you to stop by, dear friend. Yessum, it's been a while since you came over to see me. You missed a couple of posts dealing with women's issues and I also recently celebrated my 7th blog anniversary. You and I go way back, don't we?

I certainly understand that your career and the additional responsibilities of motherhood take precedence over blogging. I always miss you when you are gone so long and appreciate it when you visit.

Again, it as very kind of you to drop by to say hello even if you did not care for the music and do not wish to vote in my BOTB. Please take good care of yourself, your husband and your little girl, dear friend Ashton, and I hope to see you again soon!

Once again I'm sneaking in under the wire to probably be the latest comment again,Tom! Sorry, but some health issues and Mom care prevented me from getting to visit the blog earlier in the week.

I definitely liked both of the Brits' versions of this catchy tune more than the original Tami Lynn one - I'm not exactly sure why though. (Just curious, but was your choice of this title in any way influenced by the last two posts?)

While I enjoyed Sarah Collins fresh and enthusiastic take on the melody, and of course the back story, I wasn't fond of the prerecorded background - it reminded me of karaoke I guess.

So I must admit I preferred the professionally recorded Kiki Dee's modified title version the best. The brass and the obvious mixing I think enhanced the melody, and I think Kiki's voice and rendering also showed great enthusiastic and natural involvement on her part.

Thanks as always for letting me discover another song that I didn't even know existed, and to witness once again how a musical idea can morph in the hands of other artists.

Hi, dear Kathleen! Thank you for coming over to vote in the waning hours before the polls close. :) No, dear friend. I had this post scheduled well in advance and it was not influenced by the previous posts. I like to plan ahead and I am already working on the post schedule for the year 2021 (not a joke).

Songwriter and producer Bert Berns, founder of Bang Records, was a pioneer of 60s rock and soul music. It was interesting to hear how his "Run Away" song was handled by these three female vocalists. Those session musicians in London were top notch and played on many of the great Brit beat recordings of the 60s. Kiki Dee's is certainly one of them. I add your vote for Kiki Dee to the running total. Please come back tomorrow if at all possible to witness democracy in action as I tear open the hermetically sealed envelope and announce the winner.

Please take good care of yourself and Mother, dear friend Kathleen, and thank you again for making time for SDMM today. See you soon. God bless!

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"You had to be there!"

“Words and photographs could never do those dancers justice because you had to be there - in a club with great music, like minded people and loads of atmosphere.” David Meikle of Glasgow, Scotland wrote those words in an article remembering the Twisted Wheel, the legendary northern soul club in Manchester, England. Yet, Mr. Meikle could just as easily have been describing the scene at my favorite "in" spot of the 1960s, the Shady Dell in York (Pennsylvania, not England).

THE SHADY DELL

YORK, PENNSYLVANIA

The Shady Dell: Part of York County's Colorful History

What began as a home based restaurant and bakery in 1945 evolved over the next two decades into the hottest teen nightspot in York county complete with indoor and outdoor dance floors. It went beyond that. Shady Dell owner John Ettline and his wife Helen put out the welcome mat offering hospitality, comfort, support, and encouragement to generations of young people. During its impressive 45-year life span the Dell became a home away from home for countless area youth from a variety of backgrounds.

At the height of its popularity in the early and mid 60s the Dell, located on the southern outskirts of the White Rose city, was as widely known as North York’s White Oak Park ("the Oaks"), Harrisburg's Raven club or any other youth-oriented venue in central Pennsylvania. The Dell attracted crowds from all over the region. It brought together under one roof kids from middle class families and kids from working class families - city kids, suburban kids, small town kids and farm kids.

The diverse cast of characters that constituted the Shady Dell family was a potentially volatile mix. Each of us had to find a way to fit in and get along (or risk being voted off the island). In the end, in spite of our differences, most of us learned to dance together without stepping on each other’s toes.

Shady Dell regulars were nicknamed Dell rats and we had at least two things in common: a love of the music that played on the Dell’s jukebox and a genuine respect for John and Helen Ettline who graciously made their home our home.

GREATER THAN THE SUM OF ITS PARTS

The Dell was a unique, magical coming of age experience - a proving ground - a secluded hideaway where adolescents could develop social skills, learn to handle responsibility and test the waters of adulthood free from the hassles of ubiquitous adult micromanagement.

SHOCKING TRUE CONFESSION: I WAS A TEENAGE DELL RAT! by Shady Del Knight

I became a Dell rat in 1965 at the age of fifteen. Disparaging rumors about the place had been circulating for years. If you were to believe the gossip the Dell was a snake pit where bad boys and bad girls went to do bad things. Some people, including my mother, referred to the Dell as a “den of iniquity.” Intrigued by the horror stories, I was determined to get there and see for myself what all the fuss was about.

In preparation for my grand entrance, I subjected myself to weeks of rigorous training at a Shady Dell boot camp of my own devise. I grew my hair longer and took up the smoking habit. I practiced in front of a mirror until I was convinced that my stance, walk, and dancing style were all cool.

To complete my extreme makeover, I went shopping for my 'uniform' which consisted of a tapered shirt from the Hub, slacks by H.I.S. and two wardrobe essentials: a pair of blue Jack Purcell sneakers and the all-important Baracuta jacket "Made in England." Wearing my 'Cuta' made me feel so terribly, terribly British, you know. Spot on for us bird watchin' blokes, right gov'na?

'JACKS'

AN ABSOLUTE MUST...FOR DANCIN' ON DELL DUST!

THE CLASSIC NATURAL COLOUR BARACUTA

STRICTLY CONTINENTAL, MATE!

Moment of Truth: Boy Meets Dell

Too young to drive, I made my first Dell visit happen by bumming a ride one night with my college-age cousin and two of his buddies. Clearly, none of the above was thrilled to be babysitting.

As we drove past York Hospital on South George and headed toward Violet Hill, what began as giddy anticipation was turning to apprehension. Fear of the unknown started creeping into my brain. What if the rumors turned out to be true? Would I soon be sharing a needle with a gang of rowdy bikers?

At Violet Hill, we made a dogleg turn to the right and began to climb the narrow, winding, bumpy Starcross Road. By this time my breathing had become labored and I felt queasy. It was as if, on a foolish dare, I had agreed to spend the night with Vincent Price in his House on Haunted Hill. Was it too late to leap from the car and bolt?

"I See the Lights... I See the Party Lights..."

We rounded a bend and I caught my first glimpse of her a short distance up the road. Perched on the hillside was a three-story brick house. Down to the left stood a barn. The festive glow of colored lights rose skyward from an area behind the house. As I would soon learn, the atmospheric illumination originated from strings of lanterns hanging above a patio rigged with remote speakers for outdoor dancing.

As we banked to make our final approach I detected the percussive beat of uptempo music emanating from the barn. We turned left into a gravel parking lot overflowing with vehicles. Here, in all of her rustic splendor, stood the infamous Shady Dell, my destination for the evening and my obsession for years to come!

I Found My Thrill on Violet Hill

My heart was thumping as we climbed the steps that led to the entrance and approached the admission booth. Following my cousin’s lead, I slid a quarter through the window and looked up to see a balding, bespectacled old man grinning back at me. Old? John Ettline would have been 59 at the time. I'm older than that now. Yikes!

“Good evening, gentlemen!” John delivered his cheerful salutation in a booming baritone. Immediately, my anxiety vanished. John’s warm welcome made me feel right at home. It made me feel like I belonged. I didn’t get it at the time but later came to realize that John’s presupposition that we were "gentlemen" was a clever and tactful way of admonishing us to behave accordingly.

Toto, I've a Feeling We're Not in Kansas Anymore!

From the moment I entered the compound I was hooked. The Shady Dell was a private playground for teenagers - a candy land - a fun factory - a safe haven where kids could congregate and blow off steam without having to worry about parents and teachers giving them the evil eye. Instantly I became intoxicated - not by alcohol - but by a sense of total freedom. The place gave off a vibe that was completely new to me – an exhilarating blend of romance, adventure and danger!

Instead of placing a ton of restrictions on their young patrons, John and Helen granted them the independence they craved. The Ettlines were willing to take a step back and trust our judgment. It was okay for us to party as long as things didn’t get out of hand. Most of us eagerly embraced that arrangement. If and when we screwed up, the Ettlines gave us another chance. John and Helen cut you plenty of slack, but if you disrespected them or trashed their establishment both were capable of unleashing a fiery temper.

Of Rats and Men

Contrary to popular belief, the Dell did not harbor gangs of juvenile delinquents eager to conceal their wicked deeds from law enforcement. Sorry, Mom - there weren’t any guns, switchblades or brass knuckles - no gangs, career criminals or prostitutes - just a bunch of ordinary teenagers who loved to meet, mix and mingle, dance and have fun.

Fights were few and far between. There was tacit agreement that it was our duty to preserve and protect the unique setting that the Ettlines had created for us. It required us to police ourselves to prevent incidents that would generate negative publicity or hassles with the law. Scuffles were settled quickly, often through John’s bold intervention. The first lesson a guy learned at the Dell was as follows. Don’t let the gray hair fool you. Nobody messes with John. He’s the boss!

A Special Welcome to All Incoming Freshmen!

I was punched in the face three times during my first year of matriculation on the campus of the Shady Dell School of Hard Knocks. Apparently a few of the guys were determined to teach me a lesson. Yet, getting socked in the kisser did not dampen my enthusiasm or scare me away from the place. In fact they had the opposite effect. They whet my appetite for more! As a Dell newbie desperate to break free of mom’s apron strings and earn respect and acceptance, I wasn’t about to let a bloody nose deter me. For the first time in my life I felt like a man instead of a boy and I loved it. Like Secret Agent Man I was living a life of danger. I was addicted to the rush!

Determined to create an image that would allow me to blend in, appeal to the ladies and avoid becoming a frequent target of the tribe's dominant males, I did a lot of posing, posturing and pretending. I decided that it would be advantageous for me to look tough even though I wasn't. Whenever I strolled into the dance hall, I made sure that my hair was messed up, my shirt tail was hanging out, a lit cigarette was dangling from my lips and my game face was on.

One afternoon before anybody else arrived, my best friend and I rolled around on the dance floor of the barn so that we could properly break-in our new Baracuta jackets by getting them coated with Dell dust. This drove my mother crazy. She kept asking me how I got my jacket so badly soiled. She was even more perplexed when I forbade her to get it cleaned. How could I explain to her that I didn’t want to risk weakening my status with the other guys by wearing a clean jacket?

In my mom’s day the ideal guy wore a white sport coat and a pink carnation. His hair was neatly cropped, oiled down and slicked back off his forehead. That look would have spelled social suicide at the Dell in the mid 60s. My goal was to look like I had just been in a fight at reform school, and if I got my uniform dirty or bloodied in combat, it was a GOOD thing.

Helen & John Ettline

Shady Dell Owners

Helen and John: Not Your Typical Mom and Pop

Even by mid 60s standards, John Ettline seemed part of a vanishing breed of men. John never called me by my first name. He always chose to address me as “Mr. Knight." John maintained that friendly formality through all the years I knew him. I’m very glad he did. John always made me feel important when he added the title “Mr.” to my name. Making insecure teenagers feel good about themselves was John’s greatest gift. He always treated young people with dignity and respect and that made them want to return it.

Along with his outstanding people skills, John possessed a photographic memory. He could always match a face with a name. He seemed to know a lot about anything or anybody that you happened to be discussing. John Ettline had a million stories to tell - all of them interesting.

Although old enough to be our grandparents, there was no generation gap between the Ettlines and their teenage guests. They seemed to remember better than other grown-ups what it was like to be young. John and Helen stayed in touch and in tune with the youth culture. Never was that more in evidence than one day at the York Fair in September, 1968. I was sitting in the grandstand awaiting the start of the James Brown concert. I turned around to search the crowd for familiar faces and there, a few rows behind me, sat Helen and John. In a year when racial tension was running high in York and elsewhere, it was remarkable to see a white couple in their 60s at a James Brown concert, chanting along with the rest of us, “Say It Loud: I’m Black and I’m Proud!”

John and Helen were cool. Young people felt at ease talking with them. Unlike many adults, John and Helen listened to us. They cared without preaching or judging. The Ettlines treated their teen visitors like extended family. They believed in the potential of every young person, including troubled youth from broken homes. They spoke to us about the value of an education and honest hard work. They sponsored athletic programs and honored America’s armed forces. They shaped young lives by instilling a sense of pride and self esteem. John and Helen went out of their way to make all of their kids feel like somebody - even those whose families were telling them they were nobody.

The Dell Jukebox: ALL KILLER AND NO FILLER!

Upon arriving on the Dell scene I soon realized that the jukebox in the dance hall was loaded with the greatest, most danceable records to be found anywhere. There were quite a few songs that I had never heard before and would never hear anywhere else. The music mix that played nightly at the Dell was consistently better than what I was hearing on the radio. In the mid 60s the Dell's musical menu was an exciting blend of Motown, Chi-town, New York and Philly soul, Memphis, southern R&B, blue-eyed soul, Brit beat, sunshine pop, garage, psych and folk-rock plus a few do-wop favorites held over from the 50s.

Shady Dell regulars, the gang I now refer to as the Rodentia Intelligentsia, prided themselves on having radar for cool. Year in and year out they discovered and popularized songs that radio stations across the country overlooked. Records that lingered near the bottom of the national chart often became cherished classics at the Dell. Forgotten flips were elevated to mega-hit status by Dell rats unfettered by the limitations of radio play lists.

Certain songs resonated with the Dell crowd to such an extent that they stayed on the jukebox for years. The best example of this phenomenon is the record ranked #1 on my survey of the 200 Greatest Hits Of The Shady Dell. It remained one of the most popular jukebox selections a dozen years after its initial release in the 50s. That very special song, the greatest and longest lasting Shady Dell hit of all time, was "Close Your Eyes" by the Five Keys.

THE FIVE KEYS

"Close Your Eyes" Ranked #1

Del-Chords & Magnificent Men

Another mighty evergreen at the Shady Dell was "Everybody’s Gotta Lose Someday," an intense, power-packed r&b/soul ballad by the Del-Chords, a racially mixed group from York. Released in 1964, the record was still being played heavily two years later, jamming the floor with slow dancers several times a night. Dave Bupp and Buddy King, lead vocalists from the Del-Chords, eventually merged with band members of Harrisburg’s Endells to form a blue-eyed soul group called the Magnificent Men. The “Mag Men,” as we called them, were white guys who had a passion for black music and the vocal talent and musicianship to authentically perform it. Their inspiring ballad "Peace of Mind" was the first in an impressive string of Dell hits for our hometown heroes.

Magnificent Men

HEAVY HITTERS AT THE DELL!

The Emperors of Harrisburg

Records by the Emperors, another home-grown act, were also enormously popular with Dell dancers. A black group from the state capital, the Emperors were exponents of the “Harrisburg sound,” a blend of r&b, soul, garage and Latin influences. "Karate," the Emperors’ best known recording, was the first of eight raw, funky, organ-driven numbers to achieve hit status at the Dell in 1966 and 1967.

THE EMPERORS

DELL ROYALTY - THEY RULED!

End of an Era

Once addicted to the Dell, I pretty much lived there until the fall of 1967 when I left York to attend an institution of higher learning. Over the next four years I visited my Dell family whenever possible during holidays, spring breaks, and summer vacations. My stint as a Dell rat officially ended in 1971 when I found a job in another city and moved away from York for good.

My final visit to the Dell came in March of 1984 when my career took me out of state. My last piece of business before leaving was to drop in at the Dell and say a final goodbye. I entered the house to find John sitting on a stool at the lunch counter reading the newspaper. “Well, hello stranger!” John bellowed, rising to his feet and extending his hand. “Long time no see, Mr. Knight!" After shaking hands with John and exchanging a few pleasantries, I inquired about Helen. I was stunned to learn that she had passed away a few weeks earlier. I never got the news! John and I stood alone in Helen’s snack bar, reminiscing about the good old days and lamenting how much things had changed since the Dell’s golden era.

After a brief chat with John I excused myself and walked down the sidewalk to check out the barn. The old dance hall was dimly lit and nearly vacant. The only customers were two boys with shoulder length hair standing by the jukebox with a couple of girls. No music was playing. The place was dead or, more accurately, in the final lonely stages of life. If it had been twenty years earlier, the joint would have been jumpin’. The four young people eyed me suspiciously. Is this guy a narc? I put myself in their combat boots and realized that the sight of a stranger in his mid thirties was probably making this new generation of Dell rats uncomfortable. I promptly exited the barn and returned to the house to bid farewell to John.

That night marked the last time I ever saw John or entered the Shady Dell. I made one final pilgrimage in 1988 when I returned to Pennsylvania to visit my parents. I drove up to the Dell one afternoon with every intention of going inside. I’m sure I would have encountered a smiling John Ettline and that he would have immediately remembered my name. Yet, I never got out of the car. I chose not to enter because I didn’t want to further contaminate my memories by seeing how much older John looked and how much more dilapidated the Dell had become. All I could do was sit there in the parking lot gazing at the barn, the house, the bench and the steps to the admission booth where the whole journey started. My mind flooded with a thousand memories of the people, the place, and the time of my life.

John Ettline closed the Dell in the fall of 1991. He died at the beginning of 1993. John’s family auctioned off the restaurant equipment, signage and other Dell paraphernalia in the spring of that year.

(Mike Argento's 1993 article in the York Daily Record was used as a reference source for portions of this cover story.)

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